Concrete block construction



W. C. PARMLEY. CONCRETE BLOCK CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED DEC.26, 1918.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

, marten crass WALTER C. PARM LEY, 0J3 UPPER MO'NTOLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

CONCRETE BLOCK CONE,'iRPtJ'CTION.

Original application filed March 18, 1918, Serial No. 223,018.

Divided and this application filed December 26, 1918. Serial N0. 268,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALTER C. PARMLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Upper Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Concrete Block Constructions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a structure composed of blocks or segments, usually of concrete, the structure assuming an arch or tunnel form, although so far as the invention disclosed in this application is concerned, the form of the structure itself is immaterial.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a block constructed to have core portions of certain design and construction, which core portions in each block align with similar core portions in other and adjacent blocks of the finished structure, so that pressure may be applied to the blocks and transmitted through the core portions without injury to the remaining portions of the blocks.

The subject matter of this application is a division of certain matter contained in applicants copending application Ser. No. 223,018, filed March 18, 1918, which has matured into Patent No. 1,293,898 granted February 11, 1919. 7

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 shows in perspective a tubular structure embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion of a structure embodying the present invention; Fig. 3 is an elevation of a structure embodying a feature of the present invention; Fig. 4. is an elevation of a structure embodying the present invention.

In the building of tunnels through soft material it is very common practice to excavate the tunnel by the use of a shield. These shields being Well known in the art, will require no description at this time. The shield must be pushed forward periodically, and for the purpose of doing this, it is customary to employ acks, usually hydraulic jackswhich engage with the inner structure of the shield and are made to,

The pressures required to and it is a frequent occurrence that blocks are broken and the end of the tunnel lining is more or less damaged by the pressures which are applied incident to movin forward the shield. C

IV here the linin is formed of blocks 1]- O I ranged in succeeding rows or rings. I have found it advantageous to employ cores associated with each block, and so place the blocks with respect to each other that the core portions in the succeeding rows or rin s of blocks are in alignment. Therefore wh n the pressure from the jacks is applied. it is transmitted through the cores of the successlve rings of blocks until the pressure is absorbed or taken up by the tubular block structure.

The advantages of employing cores in blocks under the circumstances outlined, are manifold, and are clearly set forth .in the patent above mentioned.

In the present instance the invention relates to a certain form which these cores may assume, and which I will now proceed to describe.

In Fig. 1 a row of blocks is indicated at 1, and the projecting ends of the cores in the ring of blocks is indicated at 2. It will be obvious from the disclosure that the proecting core portions will abut against the ends of the next row of blocks, which would be applied and brought in contact with the ring of blocks 1.

In the present instance. the cores are formed by embedding in each block tube or column-like members which. embrace within themselves a certain portion of the concrete of which the block is made.

If desired, the concrete which is contained within the annular tube or column-like members may be of a richer mixture than that of which the block is composed. or, it may be of the same composition.

It will be apparent that by the structure proposed, the core portion of each block has a greater compression resistance per unit of area than the remainder of the block.

In Figs. 2 and SI have shown the tubular member as composed of a coil 3 which extends transversely with respect to the block, and. the concrete of which the block is formed extends inside of the coils of the tube-like member.

In -ft the tubular member is shown as a section of pipe which is embedded Fe B in. the concrete block and extends transversely thereof. This pipe may have solid walls, or there may be certain perforations in the wall it this is desired. Concrete fills the interior of the pipe.

In both oi the forms which are shown, it is apparent that the portion oi concrete which is within the tubular members is segregated or banded with respect to the concrete forming the remaining portion of the block, and because of this banding action it has a creator strength under compression than t 1e remainingportion ot the block because the tubular nien'iber of material assistance in prevcntii'ig the crushing of the concrete.

(inc particular advantage of the Forms of cores for blocks which are shown in this application lies in thctact that the core may be formed. at the same time that the block is cast. and the core therefore .iiorms an in tesz ral part otthe block itseli.

As shown in Fig. 2, the core is provided with a head 5, which extends beyondone ace ot the block while the opposite face of the blocl: is plain. Therefore, when blocks oi this construction are arranged in a tunnel coi'istruction the projections or heads on one row of blocks abut against the plain faces of the nest adjacent row of blocks. The same is true with respect to the construction shown in Fig. l.

It is within the province of my invention, however, to provide extensions or heads upon the oppositely disposed faces of: a bloclrf such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In us I this construction the heads of the core portions in adjacent rows otblocks contact with each other, The heads of the cores may, it desired, b made of different material than the cores themselves. or they may he made of concrete material which. is of different composition. than that of the block and these heads may be of a material whichwill crush under the pressures usually exerted by the jacks as before described,

thus bringing the blocks nearer to each other in the finishedstructure. This feature has the iurther :ulrantage that the blocks are protected against injury because the crushing of the heads of the cores enables the blocks to move slightly and to rearrange themselres more nearly at right angles to the forces applied, thereby adjusting the itlfik is themselves to better withstand the pressures applied, and by so much, reducing the possibility of injury to the block itself by reason oi shearing or bending stresses.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In a structure of the character described, composed ot blocks, each of said blocks being provided with a tubular memberextending transversely through a portion of the said block which encloses a portion ot thematerial of the block to form acore member of greater compression strength than the remaining portion of the block.

2. In a structure of the character described, composed of blocks, means eXtendmg transversely of each block which encloses a portion of the material of the block and serves as a' core of greater compression strengtl'i than the remaining portion of the block.

3. In a structure of the character described, composed of blocks, means extending trunsrersely of each 'loclr which encloses. a portion of the material of the block to form a core, and a projecting head estcuding from the surface of the block, said projection. being in alignment with the portion enclosed by the member extending through the block.

i; In a structure of the character described composed of blocks. means extending transversely of each block which encloses a portion of the material of the block to torm a core, and a projecting head extending "ti-om the surface of the block, said projection being in alignment with the portion enclosed by the member extending through the block, each head being made of material more readily crushed than the material oi which the block is composed.

5. In a structure of the character described. composed, otbloclrs, each block having a projection cxtendingi'rom a tacethereoi. and :1. bai'uling means extending through the block in line with the projection, said handing means enclosing a portion of the body of the block.

(3, In a structure of the character de scribed. composed of blocks, each of said blocks having-one or more core portions, each core portion comprising asubstantially cylindrical member molded into the block and extendingtransversely ofthe block, the material of which the block is composed occupying the space within the said tubular member.

i 7. In a structure ot the character described, composed of blocks each of said blocks having one or more core portions extending thcrethrough comprising a sub stantially cylindricalcoiled member molded into the block, the material of which the bloclr is composed extendingwithin the coiled cylindrical member. v

8. In a tunnel or arch structure,a plurality of contiguous rows of blocks, each of said blocks having one or more core portions extendingtherethrough, each core portion comprising a spiral banding member extending transversely of the block with concrete material within the same.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

WALTER C. PARMLEY. 

